Recommendations

Hello! Shalom! Aloha! Mabuhay!
If this is your first visit to Modern Apocrypha, I have only two recommendations for continuing on with minimal confusion:

1) Please begin with the first introductory post (found HERE) and work your way forward. Almost all the posts on this blog flow chronologically and will make more sense with the background and context of previous ones. Jumping in anywhere might be disorienting.

2) Please read along in the texts posted off to the right. I try not to summarize too much in the commentary and discussion, and being at least somewhat familiar with what we're discussing or I'm commenting on will be most beneficial and edifying for all involved. Plus, going along with the theme of this blog, any hidden truths to be brought to light will be found within the text itself and not necessarily within my ramblings.
Okay, fine, three recommendations:3) Please read with an open heart, mind, and spirit. See what truths you can find in these works--ones which speak to you. Namaste : )

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

ELISHA'S CHARACTER

Now that we're done with Elisha's story, I'd like to point out a few of his qualities & characteristics that stood out to me from the Book of Visions. I know it's a first-person narrative and a potentially biased portrayal (consciously or not), but I think we can gain some insight into the "character" of Elisha through a quick retrospective. (This list of qualities is in no particular order, just as they came to me in reading the text. I'm sure you'd be able to find other descriptive terms.) Here's how I see Elisha:

Visionary
- sees a vision of the copper sheets in the cave
- Christ visits him
- sees a vision of the whole of the island kingdom with Christ
- translates the copper sheets in a dream-state (The dream-vision connection reminded me of Lehi's "Behold, I have dreamed a dream; or, in other words, I have seen a vision.")

Skeptical/analytical
- checks his vision of the cave with his family to make sure he wasn't hallucinating
- wants to take the plates to a university for testing
- skeptical of Oleeha and how he knew everything
- thinks it was all a hoax or trick being played on him
- thinks it curious that the three men couldn't tell their names

- questions why he has to be baptized a second time and what the priesthood is all about

- but accepts the men's explanation as logical

- doesn't know whether his speaking in tongues was truth or gibberish
- surprised to have to wait 20 years to publish the Aklatan

Susceptible to/follows the Spirit
- led by the Spirit to the cave and leaves when prompted
- Christ says the Spirit had inspired him from time to time
- feels warmth and power upon receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and begins speaking in tongues
- able to translate the copper sheets via the Spirit

Trustworthy/faithful/obedient/diligent
- doesn't reveal the location of the cave
- doesn't speak of the cave or Oleeha for 3 months
- given a huge responsibility to bring forth this record and preach Christ
- tried all his life to live God's commandments
- sells his things and gives the money to the poor as commanded
- writes down Christ's words as commanded
- begins preaching right away in the region
- follows the directions of the three men
- studies the scriptures
- spends every night for 8 months translating the copper sheets
- waits 20 years to publish the Aklatan

Believing
- tried all his life to live God's commandments

- knows the Bible and believes it to be the word of God

- believes when taught that there's more to God's word than the Bible
- believes that he needs to be baptized again and receive the priesthood

- believes the men when they say he spoke truth through the gift of tongues

- continues to read the scriptures

Humble
- recognizes his sins and imperfection before Christ
- doesn't know how he can do all this
- doesn't claim to be wealthy, powerful, or influential
- sells his things and gives the money to the poor

- quickly changes his point of view when taught that there's more to God's word than the Bible, or that he needs to be baptized again and receive the priesthood

Apostle/prophet
- called by Christ as a special apostle to people of the islands
- is to declare the Lord's commands to His people

Generous
- sells his things and gives the money to the poor

Inquisitive/curious/thoughtful
- asks questions and clarifications of Christ
- thinks it curious that the three men couldn't tell their names

- questions why he has to be baptized a second time and what the priesthood is all about
- ponders for hours about the visit of the three men

2 comments:

I certainly thought of Christ's words on how to judge between a true and a false prophet, that by their fruits we can know them. I wish I could see those fruits today, but he is using a pseudonym (which I think is perfectly fine, considering the early leaders of the Church) so it isn't really possible. Although that's the case I think that he is a good person from what I have read, and i'd love to meet him and learn more about him. Good work!

It'll take a bit more faith this time instead of a strict logical-analytical approach. It's been hard for me, too : ) But, then, how many more now believe in everything Joseph Smith produced, after we're uncovering more of his "true" flawed character? Humans are fallible no matter their calling; it's by the Spirit that speaks to us through their words and writings that we are to judge them.